The Wilmingtonian., 1887-11-19
"Bellnan.'
Inquirer of Tuesday last said:

1t is rare treat to witness such p9rforance
at that of McCaull Opera Comiqe Company
in Won Suppes latest work 1t is,such de-
lightful opera, $50 delightfully."- rendered, that
one can but sit and enjoy it, without
thought of critic'sing.
The story, the scene of which is laid in
Sweden, lis very simple. Carl Bellman,
poet, has fallen in love with Karin, the pret-
ty daughter of Elveguard, rich dealer in
herrings, and is about to wed her when an
Ulla who is betrothed to. the King, but, ow-
ing to the faction quarrels prevailing in the
country, is obliged to ask the Bellman's as
sistance to get to the court. Her appear
ance at critical moment upsets the wedding.
and the second act isstaken up with efforts
of Belmau and Ulla to reach the court in
disguise by the way of Lapland. In the third
act everything is made smooth. Ulla mar
ries the King, Bellman becomes his Maiosty's
secretary and marries Karin while Elveguard
is made happy by having the title of baron
conferred on him.
As might be supposed, the fun CT the pec
is quite extraneous to the plot, but great
deal of it is brought in by means of comic
characters. e as the poet, Bell
man. of eouse, cannot be expected to do
anything but look majestic aud sing beauti
E lily, which he does to perfection. Miss
Marion Manola, in the Countess Ulla, fur
uishes another character of jealous order,
though her quick and pointed repartee
creates considerable amusement. She sings
charmingly. All the other leading charac-
rers are comic with the exception of Annie
Meyers, as X ,rin, the disappointed 5rids
and even che cannot refrain from au occas-
ional bit of by-play that makes her more at
| ractve aud raises laugh DeWol' Hopper,
as the herring merchant, is irresistibly funny.
| He has several comic songs and not only
sings them melodiously, but acts them with
consnm ate syll. Only genius like his
could make his topical song about THE
Dslsarte Theory effective, but he brings
down the house with it.
Mr.. Hopper is ably assisted by Laura
Joyce Bell as Elveguard's wife She plays
low comedy in a way that almnsts raises it
to high comedy, but at the same time is very
taking, and much Of the entertainment is
due to her performance
The great hit OF the piece, however, il
made by:Harry Macdonough and jeff d.
Hngelis, as two Hebrew manufacturers 0
gunpowder. They keep the audience in 9
roar all the time they are on the stage-whicl
is most of the evening. In the second act
which is rather of serious character,
they introduced needed dash of humor by
appearing in the disguise of bear and hi
master, on the wy to the fair, and perform
ing some highly amusing antics. Consider
ing the state of the temperature last evening
the audience was quiet disposed to sympa
thize with the unfortunate who wore the bear
skin, when he exclaimed, 'If shtay in di
besrskin wife minutes longer, I'm roasted.
The Opera is full of pleasing melodies, mos
of which are solos and duets, with onl
enough choruses to make the necessary fill
ing in.
The chorus is large, beautifully dresse
and exceptionally well drilled. The intere,
begins with the rising of cuItan-the fir,
scene showing a combat between two partie
of political adherents- and continues, withou
iutermission, to the end of the opera. A
most every number was enchored last ever
ng, and the enthusiasm of the audienc
grew every moment, until when the curtai
fell on the last act there was an almost III
.lmous demand for Colonel McCaul, but til
lmpressario did not respond.
The "Bsllman" will be presented at I'll
Grand Opera House n this city this Satu
day evening by the above Company.